Politics
2027: Obi appoints Dr. Tanko as Interim National Coordinator of Obidient Movement
The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has appointed Dr. Yunusa Tanko as the Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide.
This move which is part of efforts to consolidate the gains made during the 2023 presidential election, where Obi’s candidacy brought the previously obscure LP to national prominence.
The Obidient Movement played a key role in making the LP a household name, with Obi’s candidacy proving to be a formidable force, winning in key areas like Lagos and Abuja.
With ongoing crises within the LP showing no signs of resolution, Obi might be exploring other options, with the movement serving as a strategic platform for better bargaining power. This development follows a series of engagements and consultations aimed at establishing a more structured organization.
During an X Space meeting, Obi expressed gratitude to the over 165 individuals who submitted ideas and suggestions for the movement’s structure.
He commended the engagement and consultation team for their swift progress in managing the consultation process.
According to Obi, Dr. Tanko’s appointment is a strategic move designed to drive the movement forward, leveraging his expertise and dedication.
He encouraged supporters to continue engaging with the movement, emphasizing the importance of collective effort in building a stronger organization.
Since its inception, the Obidient Movement has gained significant momentum, with supporters rallying behind Obi’s vision for a better future both within Nigeria and globally.
This appointment marks a significant milestone in the movement’s evolution, transitioning from a grassroots phenomenon to a more structured organization.
In Obi’s words:
“Last week, I held an X Space to announce the start of a series of engagements that will help establish this structure. To drive this process, I set up a team to manage these conversations. This team was tasked with holding a series of consultations and engagements. I want to sincerely thank everyone who showed up at the engagement meeting they recently held. I also want to thank the team for how fast they moved the conversation and the consultation process.
“The team has provided me with a preliminary report. Last week, they put out a link for the submission of ideas and documents on how we should structure the movement. I want to extend my gratitude to the over 165 people who submitted their ideas and suggestions through the link provided by the Engagement and Consultation Team and those who attended a recent consultation meeting held on Saturday.
“We received a wide range of insights, including ideas on building an inclusive structure with a strong grassroots presence, leveraging technology to optimize our operations and secure our votes, and innovative suggestions for grassroots mobilization. Indeed, we have brilliant minds in our movement, and this was evident in the quality of the ideas we received.
“This is just the beginning. We are committed to ensuring that every member of this movement is heard and included as we build our structure. There will be more consultations at the regional level, and I encourage everyone to participate when called upon.
“Announcing Interim Leadership: Moving forward, it is crucial to have leadership in place to support this building process. After extensive consultations within the movement and reviewing feedback from Obidients through the ideas submitted, there is a consensus that the position of National Coordinator should go to the North. From the nominations submitted by key stakeholders in the movement and shared with the engagement team, Dr. Yunusa Tanko emerged as the most nominated candidate for this role. Given his track record, leadership qualities, and commitment to the movement, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Tanko Yunusa will serve as the Interim National Coordinator as we continue laying the foundation for our movement. I want to clarify that all positions filled at this stage are on an interim basis until our structure is fully developed.”
By Francesca Hangeior
Senator Samuel Anyanwu has resumed office as National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He drove into the party’s National Secretariat at Wadata House through the service gate located behind the building without fanfare.
Anyanwu then exchanged pleasantries with the handful of secretariat staff available before proceeding into his office.
This is coming barely 48 hours after he petitioned security agencies to come to
his aid to stop what he described as an attempt by the party’s 12 governors to cause chaos with their decision to recognize Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye, another claimant to the position.
The Governor Bala Mohammed-led 12-member PDP Governors Forum had in a communique issued after their monthly meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Friday, recognized Ude-Okoye as National Secretary basing their decision on an Appeal Court Judgement.
However, Anyanwu who said he was in possession of a valid stay of execution order insists on remaining in office until his pending appeal at the Supreme Court is dispensed with.
Meanwhile, normal activities are going on at the Secretariat. Regular policemen and women attached to the Secretariat complex can be seen at their duty posts.
By Francesca Hangeior
A businessman and philanthropist, Olanrewaju George, has described All Progressives Congress as the right platform to drive development for the people.
George stated this in a letter to the APC Chairman of Ward 4, Sagamu Local Government, Ogun state on Monday when he officially defected to APC from the Labour Party alongside his team and key supporters.
He expressed confidence in the party’s vision.
He pledged loyalty to the party and a commitment to its growth and unity.
The LP defector emphasised his readiness to collaborate with party leaders and participate actively in its activities to strengthen its structure and electoral prospects.
“This decision marks a new chapter in our political journey. We are dedicated to working with the APC to achieve success and good governance,” he stated.
George, who is the Aare Tayese of Ikenne, said youth inclusion, provision of basic infrastructures and quality representatives were reasons why he re-joined the APC.
He said, “When you look around, you see the hopelessness on the faces of our youths from years of neglect by their elected representatives. When you look around, you can see that our people lack the basic amenities to make their lives easier.
“Everywhere you look, you see the glaring need for quality representation and APC is bridging the gap in these areas.”
George contested the Remo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives in 2023.
*** INEC to open defence on Wednesday
By Francesca Hangeior
Satisfied with the evidence of 19 witnesses they produced to testify before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, on Monday, closed their case.
The petitioners are challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of the gubernatorial contest held in the state on September 21, 2024.
At the resumed proceeding in the matter before, lead counsel for the petitioners, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, informed the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel tribunal that they have concluded their case.
The application came shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, produced five additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines that were used for the election.
The electronic devices, which were tendered by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Anthony Itodo, were admitted in evidence, though all the Respondents in the matter objected, saying they would give their reasons in their final written addresses.
It will be recalled that the tribunal had earlier admitted in evidence a total of 148 BVAS that were used in 133 polling units where results of the election are being disputed by the PDP.
Meanwhile, the tribunal has fixed Wednesday for INEC to open its defence.
INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247,655 votes.
Aggrieved by the outcome of the poll, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the contest.
The petitioners, among other things, contended that the governorship election was invalid by reason of alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
They equally argued in the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024 that Governor Okpebholo of the APC did not secure the highest number of lawful votes that were cast at the election
Just in: One feared k!lled, other injured in Osun community clash
Tinubu swears in eight perm secs, 18 RMAFC commissioners
NAHCON seeks 2% CBN’s charge removal to reduce hajj fare
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
Economy16 hours agoExchange rate appreciates by N63 to seven-month high
-
News16 hours agoWhy banks cannot lift order defreezing GHL’s accounts
-
News16 hours agoLagos Assembly: ‘Tinubu not in support of Obasa’s return as Speaker
-
News16 hours agoNasarawa pivotal to minerals development, says Alake
-
Metro16 hours agoArmy destroys 12 illegal refineries, nabs 16 oil thieves
-
News11 hours agoHow Obasanjo and Buhari embarrased Nigeria in Paris
-
Economy10 hours agoSEE Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate in Lagos and FCT today, 3rd February 2025
-
News10 hours agoJust in: Again ,Trump Calls For Canada To Become US 51st State